Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
KEELEY
My eyes crack open as the sun shines through the gap in my curtains, and I groan out loud. Another sleepless night, another morning beginning with a headache.
For the first time in years, I worked from home for the full day yesterday, and if I didn’t know Sal was away on business today—according to his calendar—I would have done it again.
I can’t face him. Not because of what happened between us. That is what it is and something to worry about after this little breakdown.
For now, my concern is Vance fucking McMillan and how I’m going to get through this unscathed.
After dragging my ass up out of bed and getting in a quick run at my building’s gym, I head into the office, faking a confidence that I’m currently lacking.
My morning is thankfully uneventful, giving me time to think about what the hell I’m going to do.
I have to tell someone. Apart from the fact that I don’t want to work with the creep, I’m not the only woman who works here.
We have female athletic trainers and physicians.
Not to mention our social media manager is a young girl only a year out of college.
I can’t knowingly put any of them through what I went through.
Everyone here is like my family. Vance doesn’t belong here.
I’m at the point of seriously considering putting names in a hat to decide who to talk to when someone knocks on my office door. My heart jolts until Paige calls out.
“It’s me.”
My shoulders drop as I relax, jumping up to let her in.
“Hey stranger. How are you?” I pull her into a warm hug before dragging her inside. I could use a friend right now, even if that friend is the daughter of the man I’m stressing over.
“I’m good. I stopped by to talk to Dad about the wedding but he’s not here. I’m guessing he’s in New York?”
“I actually have no idea. All I know is that he’s away on business.”
“Ooh, why so secretive?” She laughs and I laugh along with her, but it’s obviously lacking.
“So…the wedding?” I smile giddily, changing the subject so we don’t have to talk about her dad, and she waves me off.
“You know we’re only doing this for Isaac,” she says as she walks farther into the room, glancing out the window.
“I know. That’s not going to stop me from getting excited and treating you to the full bridesmaid service. I’m still a bridesmaid, right?”
Paige and Easton have been engaged for close to a year, despite the fact that neither one of them wanted to get married.
Especially Paige. She did, however, want to adopt Isaac, and they concluded that getting married would make that process significantly easier.
She asked me to be a bridesmaid months ago, but other than searching for a dress, which I only learned about from our hair stylist, I haven’t heard a thing since.
“Of course you’re still a bridesmaid.” She turns my way, smiling without her eyes, and I wait for the but. “But…you may not want to be one when I tell you something.”
“Please tell me it’s hideous dresses. I can get behind that.” It’s highly unlikely since Paige used to be a fashion model. Still, the idea of that amuses me.
“It’s not hideous dresses.”
“Okay.”
“The wedding is in August.”
My eyes widen for the second time during this conversation. “August? During the preseason?” Easton had told me he didn’t think they’d have it until after the season, next year. A year from now.
“Just after,” Paige confirms and I bite back my shock. “We’ve decided to have it in between preseason and the first game. Easton doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. He thought if we had it during the offseason, it would become bigger than it needs to be. And I tend to agree.”
“You’re not wrong. It also gets Easton out of planning because he’ll be too busy.”
“Actually, he wants to be involved in the planning. He just doesn’t want the guys to plan an epic Vegas-style bachelor party.”
I imagine Luke running wild with ideas and I nod with a laugh. “August is sounding like a great idea. I’m excited. Let me know if I can do anything.” My giddiness returns as I mentally start planning.
“That’s why I’m here. I’d love your help.”
“Of course. Anything you need.”
“Thank you. I know we’ve got a lot to do between now and then, but I’m ready to throw myself into it all. Now…spit it out.”
“What?”
“What’s going on with you? You’re enthusiastic, sure, but there’s something off about you. Your smiles aren’t reaching your eyes like they usually do.”
I blow out a breath and prepare to tell Paige about the past. Even before she and Easton started dating, I had a good feeling about her, and we became close. Since then, we’ve become more like sisters.
And I kissed her father the other night.
Not weird at all.
All hail my sarcasm.
Paige is one of the few people who know the reasons behind my reluctance to date athletes, and since she’s always been honest with me, I know I can trust her.
“Wes and your dad are looking at a QB from my past.” I sit down on the edge of my desk, my legs suddenly shaky.
“To replace Thomas?”
“Yep.” I clench my jaw as I think about it.
“By the look on your face, I’m guessing you didn’t have a good past?”
“He’s the guy that got me fired, the guy that forced himself on me, and…” I trail off because she doesn’t need to hear the details to know what I’m implying.
“Oh, fuck, Keeley. You never told me that he made it to the pros.”
“I try not to talk about him at all.” Or think about him for that matter, when he’s not a hot topic.
“Understandably. So…what did they say?”
“Who?”
“My dad and Wes.”
“Oh.” I cringe and Paige sighs in understanding, her expression sympathetic.
“You haven’t told them?”
“Not yet.”
“You should at least tell my dad. He’s not going to want to sign him if he knows what he’s like.”
“I know. But that was years ago. What if he’s changed? What if he’s a genuinely good guy, just like his reputation suggests?” What if they choose him over me?
“What if he’s not?” Her words hang in the air and my chest tightens at the thought.
“This could open a whole can of worms and ruin his career.” Or mine.
“Is that really what you’re worried about?”
“Yes.” My voice lifts, giving away my lie.
“What’s going on?” Paige reaches forward and grabs my hand, giving me a squeeze.
“You know that your dad and I are close, right?”
“I do.” She speaks slowly, and it would make me laugh if Sal and I hadn’t had a moment the other night. That’s not what I’m referring to here.
“I’m worried he’ll go into protection mode,” I lie again, though now that I think about it, that’s another possibility.
“Oooh.” Paige’s mouth forms an O before she visibly cringes. “He’s definitely going to do that. I don’t think it’s avoidable.”
“So what do I do?”
“You tell him anyway. It’s better he knows now than when you start acting uncomfortable around his QB and he demands to know why.”
“You’re right. Thanks.”
“Any time. Good luck.”
“Ha. Thanks for that too.”
“I’m not going to lie; I don’t envy you in the slightest, but I’m here if you need me.” Paige squeezes my hand again and I smile. This talk may not have solved any of my problems, but at least I know what I have to do.
My heart jolts as I think about Sal’s reaction, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m worried about what he’ll do or excited by the idea of his protectiveness. Either way, I’m going to find out.
“Sal, I have Keeley here to see you.” Tabitha smiles my way as she speaks, both of us pretending it hasn’t been years since I asked her to announce me to Sal.
Sal’s silent for a beat, but I swear I can hear the faintest of sighs. “Thank you, Tabitha. Please send her in.”
I smile at Tabitha, hoping to convey the depth of my thanks without words, and walk across the hall to open Sal’s door.
“Hey, sorry to bother you?—”
“That’s not possible, Keeley, and you know it.
” He gestures for me to come in, and I let out a soft laugh.
Since when have I cared about that? I usually confirm he’s alone and then barge right in.
I’ve interrupted calls, his lunch, and hell, I once walked in on him changing his shirt. That one was my favorite.
Now, I’m hesitant and it’s not for the reason he thinks.
“I was actually going to come and find you,” he tells me, brushing past me to close the door. “Take a seat. I have news.”
News? Dammit. He’s about to tell me they signed Vance. I know it. Despite the awkwardness between us, there is a lightness to him, a relaxed energy that only comes with knowing a few of your problems have been solved.
“Before you tell me, I need to talk to you about something.”
Sal freezes, his eyes wide before his head drops back. “I’m sorry. I promise I haven’t been avoiding you. You were out of the office and then I was away on business. Which is what I was coming to talk to you about.”
“That’s not?—”
“Is there any way we can go back to the way things were? I can’t lose you. And more than that… I don’t want to.”
My stomach knots and I feel bad for letting him believe I walked away the other night because of our kiss.
“We’re good, I promise.”
“Are you sure?” His expression is so hopeful that my chest aches.
“I’m sure.” Please don’t hate me when I finally tell you why I held back.
“Thanks, Keeley.” Sal’s relieved sigh makes me smile until he shifts the conversation back to what he had to say. “Ready for the exciting news?”
“No.”
“We signed Mye— No?” Sal frowns, pausing when he notes my response. His eyes rake over me, concern etched into his features. He studies me for a second before cursing out loud, perhaps registering my panic, though there’s no need. Was he going to say Myers?
“I’m an idiot. I?—”
“I’m fine. No, I’m good. Did you say Myers?”
“I did, but that’s not important right now.”
“What?” I jump to my feet, my own lightness now matching Sal’s. “How can you say that? Securing Beckett is incredible news.”
“It is.” He speaks slowly, watching me curiously. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“No, I’m good. And relieved. How did you do it?”
“Keeley—”
“Is that where you were yesterday? Did you fly to Colorado? What’s he like?
Is it all official or just a verbal deal at this point?
” I know it’s wrong to slam him with questions, and from the look on his face, he can see right through my attempt to distract him.
Yet, when I stop talking and offer him a genuine smile, he relaxes.
“It’s official. His agent called about an hour ago confirming the news, and to reiterate the deal, Beckett called himself. I only just hung up with him when Tabitha buzzed me to tell me you were here.” Sal frowns when he says that out loud, his brows pulling into a furrow. “Why was that?”
“Why was what?”
“Since when do you have Tabitha announce you?”
Since I was awkward about the information I no longer have to tell you. “I have no idea what happened there. I’ve been so busy, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, like I said before, you and I are good.”
“Okay. Good. Great. Want a drink to celebrate Beckett?”
“A drink? At eleven a.m.?”
“Yes. I’m in desperate need of a coffee. “
“Oh, right, yes. I just have to grab my purse from my office.”
Sal stares at me pointedly, his face pinched as though I offended him. “You don’t need your purse. I’ve got it. I need to get out of here. It’s been a long, stressful morning.”
“Okay.” I laugh. “Let’s go.”
Sal’s palm hovers near my lower back as we exit the office, and I swear I can feel an electric current between us. None the wiser, he waves to Tabitha as he walks past. “Coffee, Tabitha?”
“No, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir.”
Sal nods as we continue on our way and for the first time, I don’t comment or laugh when Tabitha says “sir,” signifying a shift in our relationship. One that neither of us acknowledges.
And a weight settles in my chest. Only…
Maybe it’s for the best.
I have to be a professional. Both of our lives will be so much easier if we can go back to the way things were. And I, for one, am going to try.